Mont Vernon man to be arraigned in Amherst man's hit-and-run death

A 20-year-old Mont Vernon man is to be arraigned Tuesday afternoon in Nashua District Court in connection with the hit-and-run death of former Amherst Fire Chief John Bachmann.

Bachmann, 71, was killed Monday afternoon when he was struck while getting his mail at the end of his driveway on Merrimack Road. His identity was confirmed by Deputy Fire Chief Matt Conley.

According to a clerk in Milford District Court, Travis Hobbs of Mont Vernon is to arraigned in connection with the case this afternoon in Nashua District Court.

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A 71-year-old Amherst man picking up mail at the end of his driveway was struck by a hit-and-run driver Monday afternoon and left dying in a snowbank. His wife found him there, police said.

"No matter how it happened, somebody left and they left a world of turmoil behind them," Lt. Anthony Ciampoli said.

Amherst police urge anyone with information about the vehicle type or the driver to contact them at 603-673-4900.

The collision occurred shortly before 1 p.m. on Merrimack Road just east of the intersection with Corduroy Road. The location is about 1 1/2 miles northwest of Souhegan Regional High School at 412 Boston Post Road in an area popular among commuters seeking shortcuts.

Police said they are withholding the victim's name until they notify all his relatives.

"He was a very well-known and well-respected individual who will get our utmost attention to solve the matter," Ciampoli said.

The man was taken to Southern New Hampshire Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

Police said they are looking for a vehicle that has fresh damage — most likely to the right front corner. It appears the headlight was damaged in the collision.

Since the victim was struck near his mailbox — which is located on the same side of the street as his house — police are working under the assumption that the vehicle was traveling westerly — possibly toward Route 122.

The residential area is thickly settled and a heavily traveled commuter route. Given this, police said their search extends beyond area towns to all of southern New Hampshire.

"First, we would love to be able to come up with the vehicle type," Ciampoli said.

Police are investigating the death as a negligent homicide, he said.

So far, no witnesses have come forward.

"It would be very unlikely that the person who struck this party, that they did not know they did it," Ciampoli said.

"If you hit somebody hard enough to kill them, you should know you hit them," he said.

He said police found nothing to indicate the driver's vision could have been obscured.